Guard for pumping unit



1953 R. E. MOORE GUARD-FOR PUMPING UNIT Filed Dec.- 19, 1956 Roy 5 More IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent GUARD F012 PUMPING UNIT Roy E. Moore, Tulsa, Okla.

Application December 19, 1956, Serial No. 629,322

7 Claims. (Cl. 256-41) The present invention relates to guards for pumping units, and more particularly to guard fence structures for enclosing the motor and crank structure and associated moving parts of the pumping units of wells such as oil wells, so as to prevent injury to workers.

These guards have previously beenused for this purpose, as shown for example in the prior art patent to Lowry, No. 2,557,300, June 19, 1951. However, the guards known to the prior art are bulky and cumbersome to install, have no flexibility or adjustability according to the size and shape of unit they enclose, are not stable and secure against tipping or accidental dislodgement, and are cumbersome and awkward to attach or detach from the unit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a guard for pumping units which will be adjustable according to the length, width, height and shape of the unit.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a guard for pumping units which can be quickly installed from opposite sides of the unit.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a guard for pumping units which can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the unit.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a guard for pumping units which will be stable and secure against accidental dislodgement when attached to the unit.

Finally, the invention contemplates a guard for pumping units which will be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to emplace and remove, and rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pumping unit with a guard according to the invention in place;

Figure 2 is a reduced plan view of the structure of Figure l, with the pumping unit and motor and drive transmission guard in phantom line;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective assembly view of a fragment of the connection between a side portion and an end portion of a guard according to the invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the means for attaching the guard to the base of the unit adjacent the drive transmission guard with the base shown in fragmentary view; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the means for attaching the guard to the unit at locations other than adjacent the drive transmission guard with the base shown in fragmentary view.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown a guard fence indicated generally at 1 for protectively enclosing a pumping unit P and its associated motor M and drive transmission guard G. The entire pumping unit is mounted on a base comprising a pair of parallel beams B having laterally outwardly extending flanges F. Guard G may house drive and driven pulleys interconnected by a drive chain or a friction belt; or it may house drive gears. Guard G extends laterally outwardly beyond its adjacent beam B, as shown best in phantom line in Figure 2.

The guard fence 1 comprises a pair of fence sections 3, one on either side of the pumping unit, each section 3 having an elongated side portion 5 and an inwardly directed end portion 7-at each end of portion 5. Portion 5 is comprised of centrally disposed horizontal outer tubular rail sections 9 telescopicallyreceiving inner horizontal tubular rail sections 11. Set screws 13 are provided for adjustably securing sections 9 and 11 together. Sections 9 are supported by a unitary side portion vertical central post 15 telescopically receiving a footed member 17 adjustably secured therein by means of set screw 19.

End portions 7 are comprised of a. U-shaped outer tubular rail section 21 telescopically receiving horizontal inner tubular rail sections 23 held within its legs by set screws 25. Vertical sockets 27 are mounted on vertical end posts 29 of side portions 5 for receiving the downturned ends 31 of sections 23, which are held therein by set screws 33. Vertical inner end posts 35 of end portions 7 are comprised of the vertical medial portion of sections 21 and a member telescopically received therein and secured therein by set screws 37. These end posts 35 are substantially shorter than posts 15 and 29 of side portions 5.

Sockets and means for detachably connecting these sockets to outwardly extending beam flanges F are provided, comprising, in the case of the socket adjacent the guard G, a vertical sleeve 39 detachably receiving the lower end of post 35 therein for securement by means of set screw 41. Sleeve 39 has a laterally and inwardly extending screw-threaded member 43 mounted thereon. A pair of horizontal angle members 45 is provided, secured together in parallel, vertically spaced, superposed relationship with their vertical legs extending away from each other and their horizontal legs adapted to receive between them a beam flange F, by means of a pair of vertical connector members 47, one at either end of angle members 45, as best shown in Figure 4. Screw-threaded member 43 passes through the vertical leg of the upper angle member 45 and is secured thereto and retained against outward displacement by a retaining nut 49 disposed on the inner side of that upper vertical leg. A pair of vertical set screws 51 are disposed longitudinally along and pass through the horizontal leg of upper angle member 45 on either side of screw-threaded member 43, for the purpose of securing the assembly of angle members 45 to a beam flange F. Set screws 51 are held in locked position by lock nuts 53 thereon.

It will be noted that the connector means shown in Figure 4 is adapted to be disposed adjacent guard G, and provides a means whereby the overhang of guard G may be accommodated without interference with the adjacent end portion 7. Thus, the connector means for this end portion 7 extends under guard G for connection with the vicinal portion of a beam flange F, and provides a means for adjustment, by manipulation of retaining nut 49, such that varying amounts of overhang of guard G may be accommodated.

The other three connector means associated with their respective end portions 7 are in the form of vertical sleeves 55, as best seen in Figure 5, with associated set screws 57 passing therethrough for the retention of the lower ends of their associated end posts 35. However, in this latter instance, the pairs of parallel, horizontal, vertically spaced apart angle members 59, similar to angle members 45, are rigidly directly fastened to sleeves 55, as there is no need for spacing sleeves 55 a substantial distance away from adjacent portions of beam flanges F. As before, angle members 59 are provided with longidate the overhang of the drive transmission guard.

Moreover, it will also be-noted that the motor is left free for adjustment, maintenance and repair; while at the same time, the guard fence is adjustable as to height, width and length to accommodate various sizes and shapes of pumping units.

Accordingly, from a consideration of the above, it will be obvious that I have achieved all of the initially recited objects of my invention.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments. it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use with a pumping unit having a base comprising a pair of parallel beams having laterally extending flanges, a guard fence comprising in combination a pair of fence sections, one on either side of said unit, each said section having an elongated side portion and an inwardly-directed end portion at each end of said side portion, said side portion having a vertical post at each end thereof, each said end portion having a vertical post at the inner end thereof, a socket detachably connected to the lower end of each said end portion post, and means for detachably connecting each said socket to a said beam flange.

2. The invention of claim 1, in which at least one said socket and connecting means comprises a vertical sleeve in which a said lower end is received, a set screw passing through said sleeve for detachably securing said lower end in said sleeve, a pair of parallel, horizontal, vertically spaced apart angle members secured to said sleeve, the vertical legs of said angle members being directed away from each other and the horizontal legs of said angle members being adapted to receive between them a said beam flange, and a pair of set screws longitudinally spaced apart along and passing through the upper of said horizontal legs to secure said socket and connecting means to a said beam flange.

3. The invention of claim 1, in which one of said socket and connecting means comprises a vertical sleeve in which a said lower end is received, a set screw passing through said sleeve for detachably securing said lower end in said sleeve, a screw-threaded member extending horizontally from said sleeve, a pair of horizontal angle members secured together in parallel, vertically spaced relation with their vertical legs directed away from each other and their horizontal legs being adapted to receive between them a said beam flange, said screw-threaded member passing through the vertical leg of the upper of said angle members, a retaining nut on said screwthreaded member on the inner side of said vertical leg of said upper angle member, and a pair of set screws, one on either side of said screw-threaded member and passing through the upperof said horizontal legs to secure said socket and connecting means to a said beam flange.

4. The invention of claim 1, in which said side and end portions are comprised of telescoping members, thereby to be adjustable as to length and height.

5. For use with a pumping unit and motor therefor supported on a base comprising a pair of parallel beams with laterally extending flanges and having a drive transmission guard extending laterally outwardly beyond one of the beams, a guard fence comprising in combination a pair of fence sections, one on either side of said unit, each said section having an elongated side portion and an inwardly-directed end portion at each end of said side portion, said side portion having a vertical post at each end thereof, each said end portion having a vertical post at the inner end thereof, four vertical sleeves, in each of which the lower end of a said end portion post is received, a set screw passing through each said sleeve for detachably securing a said lower end therein, four pairs of horizontal angle members, the said members of each pair being parallel, vertically spaced apart, and secured-together, the vertical legs of each of said pair of angle members being directed away from each other and the horizontal legs of each said pair of angle members being adapted to receive between them a said beam flange, a pair of set screws longitudinally spaced apart along and passing through the upper of 'said horizontal legs of each said pair of angle members to secure said pairs of angle members to said beam flanges, one said sleeve being adapted to be positioned adjacent said transmission guard and having a screw-threaded member extending horizontallyinwardly and passing through the vertical leg of the upper of one said pair of angle members between the associated said pair of set screws and having a retaining nut thereon disposed on the inner side of said upper vertical leg, the other three said pairs of angle members being rigidly directly fastened one to each of the other three said sleeves.

6. The invention of claim 1, the said post of each said end portion being substantially shorter than the said posts of said side portion.

7. The invention of claim 5, the said post of each said end portion being substantially shorter than the said posts of said side portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

